Automobile spotlight



Sept. 14 1926.

J. 1'. BEYNON AUTOMOBILE SPOTLIGHT Filed March 15, 1926 2 Sheets- Sheet l Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

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JOHN 'r. BEYnon, or onroneo, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMOBILE SPOTLIGHT.

Application filed March 13,- 1926. Serial No. 94,386.

This invention relates to a spotlight whlch may be used advantageously at the front end of an automobile, and 1s concerned largely with various features in its construction byrwhich the position of the light may be controlled from a remote point. Al-

though the invention is described and illustrated herein in connection with an automobile, I would have it understood that it may be applied to other uses as well.

For its objects my invention aims to provide a spotlight construction which is simple, inexpensive, easily installed, and readily manipulable; and one which will permit the light to be raised or lowered, to

be. tilted either upwardly or downwardly, and be shifted from one side to another, according as may be desired. In addition to these general objects,my invention embodies numerous other features of construction, all of which will appear hereinafter from the description and claims to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein is set forth a preferred embodimentof my invention in the manner following:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of the front end of an automobile, to whichthe present spotlight is attached; I

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof; Fig.3 is an enlarged detail in longitudinal section through the spotlight in its entirety;

Fig. l is a transverse section therethrough, taken on line H of 3;

Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on line 5-5 ofFig. s;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail taken on line 66 of Fig. 3. a

As showing a convenient place for mounting of the present spotlight, the drawing illustrates in Fig. 1 the front end of an auto} mobile equipped with the usual radiator shell 10 below which depends an apron 11. Extending horizontally in front of the shell isa tie bar l2-adapted to connect at its ends with the proximate front fenders (not shown) so as to serve. as a brace therefor. To the shell and tie rod, and also to the apron, if desired, I connect a tube 13 wherein is contained the mounting for a spot light 14.; Extending longitudinally of the tube is an open slot 15 which, by preference, is sliglitlyto one side of the front centerthereof in the lower tube portion. Elsewhere the slot proceeds spirally soas to open out upon opposite sides of the tube, as shown in Fig. 1.

Slidably mounted within the tube is a carriage 16 which may be in the form of a split sleeve such as to fit snugly and without play. A slot 17 provided in'the front wall of this carriage is held in register with the slot 15 through the medium of a laterall extending rod 18 which passes through both slots for connection with a support 19 which is'pivotedupon a cross pin 20 within the carriage. I I swung up and down as desired. To adjust the position of the rod I provide a pair of links 21 each pivoted as at 22 to the rod, one adjacent the rear extremity thereof, and the other toward the opposite side of the car riage, these two links serving as terminals for flexible connections 23. These connections, which may conveniently take the form of cords or wires, extend upwardly through the tube 13'to pass over grooved pulleys .24- which are mounted on a cross pin'Qe The upper end of the tube, which may be threaded, is connected to a head 25 which carries the cross pin 243a and alsoa pair of guide plates 26 by which the flexible connections are held in position upon the pulleys. Extending rearwardly from the head is a plate 27 adapted to be secured to the top of the radiator shell, the flexible connections 23 passing therethrough to a point in the drivers compartment where they" are convenient for manipulation.

A bracket of some kind may be used to connect the tube lower down to the tie-bar 12. As shown this comprises' a split clamp 28 having screw means 29 for securing'it tightly to the tie-bar, there being a pair of bowed arms 30 extending from the clamp to grip the tube By some such means as this I provide for holding the tube securely near its lower end. I

A housing 31 is aiiixed to the bottom of the tube, being secured thereto, if desired, by a screw threaded connection 32. "\Vithi n this housing is mounted a stud-'33 whereon is rotatably carried a spool '34: having one end flanged at 35. The walls of thisflange are extended to provide an annulus 36 wherein is accommodated a helicalspring 37, one

his rod may accordingly be I end of which is made fast to the stud and the other to the spool. IL collar 38 spaced from this flange co-operates therewith to provide suitable gui cs for a tape or strap 39 adaotcd to be wound on the spool when the same rotated in response to tension of the spri The free strap end connects with a lot-p lt) with which is associated a swivel joint pivoted to a lug which depends centrally from the support 19. By the means described a constant downward pull is exerted on this support in all positions of its adjustment.

The lamp 14 is mounted on the outer end of the rod 18. It is shifted from side to side as the rod is moved laterally by changes in the spiral position of the open slot 15. Up and down movements of the rod are accomplished by pulling or releasing both connections 23. Independently of such movements, however, the lamp maybe tilted upwardly or downwardly by pulling singly upon one or the other of these two connections, the tendency always being for the lamp to project its rays horizontally due to the down pull by the strap 39 upon the support which is pivotedupon the pin 20.

The spotlight of my invention possesses the advantage of being controllable from a remote point in such manner that the light rays may be projected in any desired direction. This includes shifting about a vertical axis through an arc of 180 or more, and tilting about a horizontal axis through a con siderable distance also. The mechanism is of a kind which is very simple, inexpensive to produce, and always reliable in operation. It may obviously be modified within considerable limits without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the claims following.

I claim:

1. In a spotlight construction, the combination of a tube having a spiral slot extending lengthwise thereof, a carriage slidable lengthwise of the tube and provided with a slot extending longitudinally through one wall thereof, a rod passing laterally through both slots from a point interiorlyof the carriage to the exterior of the tube, a lamp mounted on the outer end of the rod, a support within the carriage to which the rod is secured, means connected with the carriage furnishing a pivotal mounting for the sup port at a point above the rod, means exerting a pull on the support longitudinally of the tube, and dual control means connecting with the rod, one on each side of the support, adapted for operation singly or together whereby the rod support may be rocked or the carriage may be moved to change the longitudinal and lateral position of the rod, substantially as described.

2. In a spotlight construction, the combination with a tube having a spiral slot, a

carriage slidable within the tube, a rod mounted in the carriage and extending through the slot in the tube to the exterior thereof, a light supported on the outer rod end, and means for moving the carriage within the tube whereby to turn the light from Side to side, substantially as described.

3. In a spotlight construction, the combinationof a slotted tube, a carriage slidable within the tube, a rod pivoted upon a radial axis within the carriage and extended therefrom through the slot to the exterior of the tube, a light affixed to the outer rod end, and means for moving the carriage whereby the light is shifted laterally or for rocking the rod upon its axis whereby the light is oscillated longitudinally of the tube, substantially as described.

4. In a spotlight construction, the combination with a light of a movable support therefor, a movable carriage wherein the support is mounted, and control means for selectively changing the position of the carriage or the support whereby the direction of the light is varied, substantially as described.

5. In a spotlight construction, the combi nation of a tube having a spiral slot, a rod extended from a point within the tube through its slot to the exterior thereof, a light carried upon the outer rod end, a pivotal support for the rod within the tube, and means for moving the support longitudinally of the tube, whereby the position of the rod is shifted in response to the curve of the slot, substantially as described.

6. In a spotlight construction, the combination of a slotted tube, a head secured to the upper tube head, a pair of pulleys mounted in the head over the tube, a slotted carriage slidable within the tube, a support pivoted to a horizontal axis within the carriage, a rod secured to the support and extended from the carriage through the slot of the tube to the exterior thereof, a lamp affixed to the outer rod end, links pivoted to the rod, one upon either side of the support, flexible connections extending from the links over the pulleys and through the head to a control point, a spring actuated spool at the lower tube end, a strap wound upon the spool, and a swivel connection between the strap and support adapted to draw the latter toward one end of the tube, substantially as described.

7. In a spotlight construction, the combination with a light, of a rod whereon the light is carried, a sup ort for the rod, a pivotal mounting for t e support, means for reciprocating the support in a direction counter to the axis of its mounting, and means which tends to return the support .to an initial position, substantially as described.

8. In a spotlight construction, the combination with a light of a rod whereon the light is carried, a support to which the rod is spring means tending to hold the rod in a secured, means providing a pivotal mounting fixed position relative to the carriage, and a for the support a reciprocable carriage to swivel connection interposed between said which said means is connected, means prosupport and spring means, substantially as 5 viding a guide for the rod such as to turn the described.

same, together with the carriage, from side to side during reciprocations of the latter, JOHN T. BEYNON. 

